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Nick Johnson and Dustin Jeffrey to make season debuts with Pittsburgh

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The Pittsburgh recalled forwards Dustin Jeffrey and Nick Johnson this morning. Both players will made their season debut tonight against the Washington Capitals. Pascal Dupus (facial injury) will not be in the lineup for Pittsburgh.

Jeffrey, 21, is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s leading scorer, and ranks fifth in the entire AHL with 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists in 39 games. He also paces WBS in plus-minus (plus-12), shorthanded goals (3) and shots (125). Jeffrey started for the Canadian AHL All-Star team and recorded one goal and three points.

Jeffrey, who was drafted by the Penguins in the sixth round (171st overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut with Pittsburgh last season. He appeared in 14 games with the Penguins, notching one goal and three points. The Sarnia, Ontario native spent the majority of the year with WBS, recording 37 points (11G-26A) in 63 games. He placed second on the club with 10 postseason points (5G-5A) in 12 playoff contests.

Jeffrey (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Mississauga and Sault Ste. Marie, totaling 252 points (100G-152A) in 246 games. He finished his final OHL season with 97 points (38G-59A) in 56 games with Sault Ste. Marie.

Meanwhile, Johnson, 24, will make his National Hockey League debut. He is in his second full season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and ranks fifth on the club with 22 points (7G-22A) in 26 contests.

Johnson (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) played 56 games with WBS last year and posted 14 goals, 31 points and a plus-14 rating. The Calgary, Alberta native tied for second on the club with 10 points (4G-6A) in 12 playoff games.

Johnson, a third-round selection (67th overall) in the 2004 Draft by Pittsburgh, played four collegiate seasons at Dartmouth. He finished his college career with 125 points (57G-68A) in 133 games. Johnson was named First Team All-ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) and First Team All-Ivy League as a senior after scoring 10 goals and 35 points in 32 games.

Of the two players, Johnson is the most intriguing player. Johnson is regarded as the most NHL complete prospect in the Penguins system by scouts around the league.

Trade Buzz: Thursday’s 1-for-1 trade of young underperforming players saw the Minnesota Wild acquire center Victor Rask from the Carolina Hurricanes for left winger Nino Niederreiter. Carolina did an excellent job of being able to get out of the Rask contract, who has three years remaining with a $4 million cap hit. Rask has 1 goal, 5 assists on the season, mirrored in a 22-game goal drought. The logic here for Minnesota is taking the chance on a playmaking center who can help fill a top-9 spot longer term if the Wild move on from Eric Staal. Minnesota is also playing the card that a change of scenery will benefit the 24-year old who posted a career-high 21 goals, 48 points in 2015-2016.

Niederreiter’s trade value was stunted because of his contract, where he has three years left on his deal with a $5.25 million cap hit. Niederreiter is a player who is extremely hard to play against, drives possession well, and has three 20 goal seasons over his last four full seasons. Injuries (18 goals in 63 games) kept him from a 4th straight 20-goal season in 17-18. The Niederreiter acquisition also sets up as great insurance for the Hurricanes if they can’t resign Micheal Ferland. In the short-term, Carolina’s center situation is a mess with Jordan Staal sidelined with a concussion, but they’re getting the better player who fits the identity they’re trying to establish upfront, especially on the wings where they’ve identified the need for Patric Hornqvist type players.